Pirate Mohamed Abdi Hassan nabbed in sting after being promised movie role

Brussels: One of Somalia's most notorious pirates is facing kidnapping charges after being tricked into travelling to Belgium on the premise he was to help make a film about his life.

Federal prosecutor Johan Delmulle said Mohamed Abdi Hassan, known as "Afweyne" or "Big Mouth", was being held in Bruges after being detained at Brussels airport on Saturday after disembarking from a flight from Nairobi.

He was arrested along with his accomplice, Mohamed Aden Tiiceey, former governor of Himan and Heeb state in central Somalia, the prosecutor said, reading a statement to the press in French and Dutch.

Afweyne faces charges of kidnapping and piracy in the case of the 2009 capture of Belgian ship Pompei, which was held by pirates off the Somali coast for more than 70 days. Photo: AP

Both Afweyne and Tiiceey were facing charges of kidnapping and piracy in the case of the 2009 capture of a Belgian ship, the Pompei, which was seized and held by pirates off the Somali coast for more than 70 days.

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Belgian investigators had been working for years to bring the men behind such crimes to book and lured the notorious pirate to Brussels in a scheme that took months.

"The plan was to approach Afweyne through the intermediary of his accomplice named Tiiceey," his statement added.

"Via Tiiceey, Afweyne was asked to collaborate as an adviser and expert on a film project on maritime piracy. The film was supposed to reflect his life as a pirate."

But when Afweyne and Tiiceey landed on Saturday morning to sign the movie contract, "they were expected and taken into custody", the prosecutor said.

Afweyne announced in Mogadishu in January that he was quitting piracy after a highly profitable eight-year career. He said he was working to persuade other pirates to do the same.

Described last year by the UN as "one of the most notorious and influential leaders" in Somalia's pirate hub, he notably was involved in the 2008 capture of the Saudi-owned Sirius Star oil supertanker, released for a ransom of several million dollars.

He also reportedly took part in the 2008 capture of the MV Faina, a Ukrainian transport ship carrying 33 refurbished Soviet-era battle tanks, which was released after a 134-day hijack for a reported three million dollars.